Abstract
BackgroundHigh levels of parental anxiety are associated with poor treatment outcomes for children with anxiety disorders. Associated parental cognitions and behaviours have been implicated as impediments to successful treatment. We examined the association between parental responsibility beliefs, maternal anxiety and parenting behaviours in the context of childhood anxiety disorders. MethodsAnxious and non-anxious mothers of 7–12 year old children with a current anxiety disorder reported their parental responsibility beliefs using a questionnaire measure. Parental behaviours towards their child during a stressor task were measured. ResultsParents with a current anxiety disorder reported a greater sense of responsibility for their child's actions and wellbeing than parents who scored within the normal range for anxiety. Furthermore, higher parental responsibility was associated with more intrusive and less warm behaviours in parent–child interactions and there was an indirect effect between maternal anxiety and maternal intrusive behaviours via parental responsibility beliefs. LimitationsThe sample was limited to a treatment-seeking, relatively high socio-economic population and only mothers were included so replication with more diverse groups is needed. The use of a range of stressor tasks may have allowed for a more comprehensive assessment of parental behaviours. ConclusionsThe findings suggest that parental anxiety disorder is associated with an elevated sense of parental responsibility and may promote parental behaviours likely to inhibit optimum child treatment outcomes. Parental responsibility beliefs may therefore be important to target in child anxiety treatments in the context of parental anxiety disorders.
Highlights
Anxiety disorders in childhood are common (e.g., Canino et al, 2004; Ford et al, 2003), costly for society (e.g., Bodden et al, 2008), and have negative consequences for children's social and academic development (e.g., Essau et al, 2000)
In a sample of clinically anxious children, parental responsibility beliefs were found to be significantly higher in mothers who themselves had an anxiety disorder compared to non-anxious mothers
Parental responsibility beliefs were associated with specific parental behaviours, such that a greater sense of parental responsibility was associated with higher levels of intrusive behaviours and reduced warmth towards their child
Summary
Anxiety disorders in childhood are common (e.g., Canino et al, 2004; Ford et al, 2003), costly for society (e.g., Bodden et al, 2008), and have negative consequences for children's social and academic development (e.g., Essau et al, 2000). This study represents a step towards identifying potential mechanisms, by investigating associations between parental anxiety and parental cognitive and behavioural responses in the context of child anxiety disorders. High levels of parental anxiety are associated with poor treatment outcomes for children with anxiety disorders. We examined the association between parental responsibility beliefs, maternal anxiety and parenting behaviours in the context of childhood anxiety disorders. Methods: Anxious and non-anxious mothers of 7–12 year old children with a current anxiety disorder reported their parental responsibility beliefs using a questionnaire measure. Parental behaviours towards their child during a stressor task were measured. Parental responsibility beliefs may be important to target in child anxiety treatments in the context of parental anxiety disorders
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